I'm based in the southwest and I currently have 9 units and I am currently helping 3 investors for MTR at this moment. 

Lots of competition for tenants at this moment, which has been dropping rents down, rent concessions etc.Good luck on your journey!

I am trying to transition in to full time realtor but unable to do so at the moment as financial demands require me to stay employed with my department 

I also really liked what you said about filling holes, that does seem to me about where I am at the moment.

It easy for people to get up on their crystal palace podium but the moment it comes knocking on your door or in your neighborhood peoples opinions change drastically. 

Nope, no shortage of "WTF" moments there. 

Living in the Pacific Northwest, where the “Big One” could strike at any moment, I’ve been gradually selling off my portfolio to exit the market and safeguard my capital.

I'm on my 2nd house hack at the moment.  

At this point, I'm not so concerned about achieving that exactly, but if my REI journey takes me there on my way to (or even after) financial freedom, then I'm all for it.There's still some work to do to prepare financially for "the first deal" and that moment legitimately appears to be about 2 years away. 

So as a newer person in an area if you want a lot of bids before you close you'll normally end up with the more expensive guys or the ones that don't have work at the moment (usually for a reason).